Drafting kit assembly



J. E. KREMER DRAFTING KIT ASSEMBLY July 28, 1959 Fild May 14, 1956 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor JACOB E. 'KREMER July 28, 1959 J. E. KREMEVRDRAFTING KIT ASSEMBLY- Y Filed May 14, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 LAT--22"Inventor JACOB E KREMER United States Patent DRAFTING KIT ASSEMBLY JacobE. Kremer, Chicago, Ill.

Application May 14, 1956, Serial No. 584,684

2 Claims. (Cl. 312-231) The present invention relates to a drafting kitassembly and more particularly to an arrangement whereby a drawingboard, T-square, and related drawing Implements and materials can beassembled and carried as one convenient unit.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved drafting kitwhich is light, compact, and inexpensive, and which enables a draftsmanto conveniently carry all of the necessary drawing materials andimplements in one secure box-like unit.

It is a further object to provide a drafting kit adapted to contain andprotect drawing implements and materials, and, in particular, which willafford protection to a T-square stored therein.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide a draftingtable in association with a storage cabinet adapted to convenientlystore drawing implements and materials arranged so that the draftingtable forms a closing cover for the cabinet, the combination beingadapted to receive a T-square for storage and provided with means sothat the cobinet and drafting table are securely locked into closedposition by the T-square when it is stored in place. It is a furtherobject to provide such a storage cabinet with a slidable drawer adaptedto receive additional drawing implements and materials that is alsolocked into closed position by the T-square when it is stored in place.

It is an additional object to provide a cabinet having a slidable draweradapted to provide convenient storage for drawing implements andmaterials, the cabinet being hinged to a drafting table so that when thedrawer is pulled out of the cabinet the hinged drafting table can beswung away to provide easy access to the body of the cabinet which canthus be utilized for additional convenient storage of drawing materialsand implements.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent uponreading the attached detailed description and upon reference to thedrawings in which:

Figure 1 shows the drafting kit in assembled and locked position,available for transport.

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the kit shown in Fig. 1 withthe T-square and drawer pulled out from the cabinet and the drawingboard raised.

Fig. 3 is a side View, in partial section, of the kit with the T-squareremoved, the drawer partially open, and the drawing board supported atan angle.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of the kit as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section of the kit as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a tranverse section of the kit with the T-square removed andthe drawing board supported at a steep angle.

Fig. 7 is a partial perspective view of a modification of the kitstructure.

While the invention will be described in connection with a preferredembodiment, it will be understood that Patented July 28, 1959 I do notintend to limit the invention to that embodiment, but, on the contrary,intend to cover such alternative embodiments and constructions as may beincluded within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Turning first to Fig. 1, it can be seen that the kit 10 forms arectangular case when closed and locked for carrying. A handle 11permits the kit to be easily grasped. In the illustrated embodiment theT-square 12 projects a short distance from each end of the kit. Adrawing board 13 is a rigid part of the assembled kit.

When the kit is opened and separated as shown in Fig. 2 the details ofconstruction and design become apparent. The drawing board is pivoted bymeans of hinges 14 to an open-topped cabinet 15 which comprises a bottom16, sides 17 and relatively thick end walls 18 and 19. The end walls areof greater height than the side walls so that a drawer 20 can slide overthe side walls and between the end walls.

Drawer 20 consists of a bottom 21, side walls 22, 23 and end walls 24.The carrying handle 11 is screwed or bolted to side wall 22. Each of theend walls has a rectangular notch 25 cut in the top center of the wallfor a purpose which will be made clear below. The drawer is subdivided,by partitions 26 and 27, to provide any convenient arrangement for thestorage of drawing implements. In Fig. 2 two extensions 28, whosepurpose is discussed below, are shown lying in the drawer.

To mount the drawer for sliding movement in the cabinet a simple sturdyexpedient is utilized. The drawer bottom 21 is extended beyond each endwall 24 to form flange portions 29. Each of the thick end walls 18 and19 has a groove 30 formed therein to receive the flanges 29 and thosesupport and guide the drawer. It is significant to note that theportions of the drawer and the cabinet which cooperate are symmetricalwith respect to their transverse axes so that the drawer can be reversedwithin the cabinet and slid out in either direction. That is, the drawermay be positioned as shown in Fig. 3 so that the handle permits it to bepulled out away from the draftsman seated at the right of the drawingboard, or it may be reserved within end walls 18, 19' so that it can bepulled out toward the draftsman as in Fig. 6. This change can be simplymade to conform to whichever arrangement the draftsman finds moreconvenient. Without regard to which way the drawer faces, the handle maybe used for carrying and the locking means, to be described, is fullyeffective.

In addition to the storage space provided by the drawer, provision isalso made in the bottom of the cabinet for additional space 15a which isparticularly well suited for the convenient retention of paper and likedrafting materials. As shown in Fig. 2, a partition 17a may be providedif desired to subdivide the available cabinet space. An importantfeature of the design is the ease in which access can be had to thecabinet storage space beneath the sliding drawer. As can be readily seenin Fig. 2, sliding out the drawer and pivoting the hinged drawing boardcompletely exposes the interior of the cabinet.

In accordance withthe present invention means are provided for carryingand fully protecting a T-square while utilizing the T-square to providea positive lock for the closed kit. To receive the T-square, end walls18 and 19 have notches 31 cut in the tops thereof which are slightlylarger than the cross section of T-square blade 32. When the drawer 20is slid closed the notches 25 in the drawer end walls 24 alignthemselves with the notches 31 and are of a similar size so that whenthe drawing board swings down to lay flush on the end walls 18 and 19 arectangular aperture extends entirely through the cabinet. This permitsthe T-square to be freely inserted into the aperture 3 i and through thecabinet as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 with the head 33 of the T-squareabutting the end wall. The T-square is thus protected in the two wayswhich are essential. First, the ruling edge-is disposedwithin a closedcabinet to prevent nick ing of the edge and, second, the head-33 and itsblade 32 aresup'ported iii-their right angled relationship so that anyaccidental-bl'ow on the head 33 will be absorbed by the endwall againstwhich it abuts and will not tend to pivot the head relative to' itsblade. As a further safeguard for thecritical center portion of theT-squares ruling edge, the partition 26 in drawer 20 may be grooved asat 34 to slidingly receivethe upper center edge of the T-square toshield it from nicks or abrasions, as can be seen in Fig. 5.

To enable the T-square to perform its locking function the notches inthe ends ofthe cabinet are covered and means are provided on theunderside of the hinged drawing board for registering with the inserted'T-square-when the drawing board is in its fully closed position. Morespecifically, each of the notches 31 has a wide bar 35 suitably fastenedacross it and recesses 36 are provided in the lower surface of thedrawing board to accommodate the bars 35 when the cabinet is closed. Theregistering means on the drawing board comprises a pair of wide U-shapedbrackets 37 suitably fixed to 'the lower surface thereof. The bracketsare-located at opposite ends of the board and are so positioned thatwhen the drawing board is swung down onto the cabinet they fit withinrecesses 38 formed in the side walls 18 and 19 and are closely adja centto, and aligned with, the notches'31; The bars 35 and the brackets 37thus define loops which, when the cabinet is closed by the drawingboard, overlap and become aligned for reception of the T-square blade32. It is thus apparent that when the T-square is inserted into positionin the closed cabinet, the blade 32 will pass beneath bars 35 andthrough brackets 37, thus securely locking the drawing board down overthe cabinet. It is also apparent that since the blade passesthrough'notches 25 in drawer 20, the drawer is also locked in its closedposition when the' T-square is in place. It should be noted that thelocking surfaces of bars 35, brackets 37 and notches 25 and 31' whichcontact the T-square blade are all broad and close fitting so that thelocking function performed by the T-square does notten'd to'damage it.

To retain the T-square-within the closed and locked cabinet, a snap ring38-, or other suitable fastening, is passed through a hole in the end ofthe T-square blade. A small padlock could obviously be utilized in lieuof snap ring 38 to provide a key-secured assembly.

In order to position thedra'wing board at convenient working angles-whenin use, means are provided to support the boardat an angle with respecttothe cabinet 15 to which it is hinged. Drop supports 40 are pivotallysuspended from'the bottom of the drawing board by fixtures 41. When'thecabinet is closed this structure is received within the suitably shapedrecesses 42in the end walls 18 and 19. Formed as a portion of therecesses 42 are further depressions '43 shown in Figs. 3 and 6 whosefunction is plainly shown'in those figuresi As is readily apparent inFig; 3, for example, to position the drawing board 13 at a slight anglewith respect to the cabinet it is simply swung about its hinges 14 whichallows the drop supports 40 to pivot pendulously for seating indepressions 43, thus firmly supporting the board in the desiredposition. In Fig. 6, the use of extensions 28 is illustrated. Extensions28 comprise rods having a tapered end 44 adapted to seat in a depression43 and which are provided with bores 45 at their other ends respectivelyto receive supports 40. The extensions 28 can be easily'fitted over thesupports 40 and when then seated in depressions 43 function to supportthe drawing board at a steep angle much in the manner of an easel (Fig.6).

If desired, provision may be made for additional protection of theT-square by providing an additional recess 45 in the outer surface ofone end wall, 18 or 19, which would accommodate a portion, or all, ofthe T-square head 33 as shown in Fig. 7. Resting in such a recess thehead would be restrained from any twisting or turning tendencies ifsubjected to an accidental blow.

I claim as my invention:

1. A drafting kit assembly comprising a storage-cabinet of shallowrectangular construction having an open top, a drawing board havingdimensions corresponding'to the topof said cabinet, a hinge for hingingsaid drawing board to the edge of said cabinet so that the drawing boardmay be swung froma closed position in which the board' serves as aclosure for said cabinet and a tilted-open position, locking meansincluding loop members on the'underside of said drawing board and onsaid cabinetrespectively, said loop members being positioned so as to beadjacent'one another and in register when the drawing board is. in itsclosed position, a drawer slidingly mounted in the said open top of thecabinet to slide parallel to the bottom of the cabinet, abutlnents onsaid drawer positioned to register with said loop members on the cabinetwhen the drawer is slid into the cabinet, and a T-square insertablethrough said re'gistered'loops and between said abutments for lockingthe same together.

2. A drafting kit assembly comprising a storage cabi net, a drawingboard fitted on said cabinet to provide a cover therefor, saidcabinethaving alined. apertures which permit the insertion of a T-squaretherethrough when the cabinet is closed by the drawing board, a T-squareinserted through said apertures, means on the drawing board and on thecabinet for abutting opposite sides of said inserted T-Square soas tolock the board onto'the cabinet, and a drawer slidably mounted in saidcabinet, said drawer having surfaces abutting opposite sides of saidT-squares so as to be locked in said cabinet by'the inserted T-square;

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS327,226 Briggs Sept. 29, 1885 601,661 Knight Apr. 5, 1898 1,038,146Jackson Sept. 10, 1912 1,572,346 Adsit Feb. 9, 1926 1,753,760 White:Apr. 8, 1930 2,003,834 Mitchell June 4, 1935 2,586,524 Dussardier Feb.19, -2

FOREIGN PATENTS 631,153 Great Britain Oct. 27,. 1949

